Bricker, Milton (1876-1967)

Milton Bricker: minister and presiding elder, was born 16 August 1876 on a farm near Roseville, Ontario to Noah Bricker (1844-1924) and Catharine Kiefapper Bricker (1856-1925). He was the third child in a family of 11 children. He was raised on the family farm, and received the usual common school education. On 5 March 1907 he married Agnes Elizabeth Schell (9 January 1887-31 July 1980). They had three daughters. Milton Bricker died 3 May 1967.

At age 19 Bricker was converted and joined the local Mennonite Brethren in Christ congregation that shared a union church with a Evangelical Association congregation near Roseville. He began ministry in 1900 as an assistant to the pastor in his home congregation, which was then located in a new building at the edge of Roseville. He was ordained by the Ontario Conference of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ in 1904.

Following the Mennonite Brethren in Christ pattern of frequent changes in congregational leadership, Bricker served at the Blair, Hespeler, Port Elgin, Shrigley, Elmwood, Stouffville, Markham, Sunnidale, Toronto and Breslau congregations. In 1924 he was elected presiding elder for the Ontario Mennonite Brethren in Christ, and continued in this role until he retired in 1944 (except for a two year pastorate at Breslau in the 1930s).

Bricker also served on the General Board and Foreign Mission Board of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ for many years.

Milton Bricker was a warm personality who came to know virtually all members in the Ontario district conference. One of his frequently repeated exhortations was, "Walk worthy, follow closely, and live ready for His coming." This characterized his concern for the life of the church. Milton and Agnes Bricker are buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Kitchener, Ontario.